Electric heater



May 10, 1932. L. B. HYDE ELECTRIC HEATER Filed Oct. 12, 1929 ,lllllllillllfl IN! ENTOR. Lewis 4 e Y E R 0 T. T A

Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES LOUIS B. HYDE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN ELECTRIC HEATER Application filed October 12, 1929.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in an electric hot water heater and has for its object the provision of a hot water heater which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, highly efficient in use, durable, and so constructed and arranged that maximum wear of the heating element becomes possible.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a hot water tank of means for enclosing about a heating element a limited amount of water so as to provide within the hot water tank a sort. of auxiliary reservoir, the water of which is first heated and heated to a high temperature.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for restricting the convective flow of the water from about the heating element so as to bring about a higher degree of heating of the water within a confined space.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to'the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of the invention with parts of the tank broken away.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings I have illustrated the invention used with a hot water tank having a base 7 and a top 8 connected to the cylindrical wall forming portion 9. An inlet or drain pipe 10 communicates with the tank through the base 7 and an outlet pipe 11 communicates with the tank through the top 8 as does also an inlet pipe 11. A casing encloses the tank, this casing comprising the top 12, the bottom 13, and the wall forming portion 14 thus leaving the space 15 between the tank 9 and the casing in which suitable insulation may be positioned. An opening 16 is formed in the bottom 13 registering with an opening 17 formed in the bottom 7 Serial N0. 399,211.

Pressed into the opening 16 in the bottom 13 is a fibre tube or neck 18. Projected through the opening .17 and inserted into the neck 18 and extended into the tank 9 so as to terminate near the top 8 of the water tank be low the outlet pipe 11 is a tube 19. The tube 19 is brazed or otherwise suitably secured in the opening 17 to provide a water tight joint. Positioned centrally inwardly of the tube 19 is a tube 20 having its upper end turned inwardly as at 21, this inwardly turned end being againturned as at 22 to extend axially and engage the periphery of the pipe 23 which projects through the fitting 2e secured in the, closure 33 which is provided for the opening 16. A plug 25 is used to close the outer end of the pipe 23. Openings 26 are formed in the pipe 23 adjacent the upper end thereof. The material from which the tube 23 is formed is pressed inwardly at some of the openings 26 so that the cooler water en- .tering the pipe 23 through these openings is directed radially inwardly of the pipe 23 and does not interfere with the upward travel of the hotter water in the pipe 23. Positioned concentrically about the tube 20 is a tube 27 turned inwardly at its upper end and engaging the periphery of the tube 23 adjacent the upper end thereof. The tubes 20 and 27 at their upper ends are brazed or otherwise suitably secured to the periphery of the pipe 23 so as to form a water-tight connection therewith. The lower end of the tube 20 is angularly turned as at 28 and flared outwardly to engage the inner surface of the tube 19 on which it is brazed or otherwise suitably secured to form a water-tight connection.

The lower end of the tube 27 is positioned slightly above the lower end of the tube 20 and is similarly flared outwardly as at 29 r to engage the inner surface of the tube 19 on which it is brazed or otherwise suitably secured to form a water-tight connection. Openings 30 are formed in the tube 19 between the lower ends of the tubes 20 and 27 to permit passage of water from the water tank into the space .31 between the tubes 20 and 27. This water may pass through the perforations 26 into the pipe 23. The upper end of the pipe 23 is tapered so as to form a constricted passage for the water passing upwardly through the pipe 23, the outlet opening 32 being of considerably less area than the cross sectional area of the pipe 23.

Positioned within the tube 20 in embracing relation to the pipe 23 is an insulating core 34 on which is wound the heating element 35 which may be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy. The core 34 is held in position by a collar 36 which embraces the pipe 23 and may be locked in various positions by the set screw 37.

In use, when the current is turned on to the heating element after the tank has been filled with water, the water in the space 31 will become heated as will likewise the water in the pipe 23. As the water'becomes heated it will move upwardly and on account of the constricted opening 32 the passage upwardly will be retarded. The tube 19 will serve to confine the water directly about and over the heating element in a well defined space so that the tube 19 will serve to form within the hot Water tank a sort of auxiliary reservoir, the

i water of which will first become heated before the heating of the water in the rest of the tank and which will always be at a temperature higher than the water in the rest of the tank. In this way there is provided a hot water heater in which a small amount of water may be raised to the desired tempera ture without heating the remainder of the water in the hot water tank to any great degree thus economizing considerably in the electric current used on the heater.

By having the water positioned about the periphery of the heating element or core and also positioned inwardly of the core or heat ing element a maximum efiiciency in the heating element is effected.

When desired, the plug 25 may be removed for flushing out the tube 23. If desired, the tube 23 may be used as a conduit for conducting water into the tank for flushing purposes. The pipe 10 may be used as a drain for flushing the tank as well as a cold water inlet and the presence of the openings 30 at the lower end of the tube 19 will permit the easy flushing of the space 31.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hot water heater of the class described, comprising: a water tank; a tube positioned in said tank in communication therewith and terminating at its upper end adjacent the top of said tank; a tube extending inwardly of said tank and centrally of said first mentioned tube and having an outlet opening at its inner end of less area than its cross sectional area; a heating element embracing said second mentioned tubular member and ositioned inwardly of said tank; means em racing said heating element for sealing the same from communication with the interior of said tank; and means embracing said sealing means to providea water receiving space, said second mentioned tubular member having perforations communicating with said space and said first mentioned tubular member having openings communicating with said space.

2. A hot water heater of the class described, comprising: a water tank; a tube extending inwardly of said tank and having an outlet opening at its inner end of less area than the cross sectional area of said tube; a heating element embracing said tube and positioned inwardly of said tank; means enclosing said heating element for sealing the same from communication with the interior of said tank; and means embracing said sealing means to provide a water receiving space inwardly of said tank, said tube having perforations communicating with said space.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

LOUIS B. HYDE. 

